The Rwandan Genocide
The question you may have is, “Why talk about this? It has nothing to do with me. I don’t know any one who died. It happened a long time ago.” Here is why: As an artist, your responsibility is to reflect on the world around you and answer the questions that are left to us. As an American, it is your responsibility to make this world a better place than you found it. As a human being it is your responsibility to make sure that this never happens again. If it does, who’s to say that next time, you or someone you love won’t be on the other end of the hatred?
As the world continues to reflect on the Rwanda genocide, many questions still linger. Your assignment will be to create a work of art that answers one of the following questions.
oDid it have to happen?
oWhat drives humanity to such extreme and intense hatred?
oWho is to blame? The international community or Rwanda itself?
oAre we sure that the Rwanda genocide is the last the world will witness?
oWhat can we do to prevent this from happening anywhere in the world?
oCan art or music help the healing process?
oWhat is the difference between healing and forgetting?
oWhat is the danger of forgetting?
oWhat should America have done? Was our course of action justified? If so, how?
oHow does this relate to the genocide in Darfur, Armenia, Bosnia or to the European Jews?
The work of art does have a few requirements:
1.It should be at least 16”x20” large. Larger is fine.
2.It should include some collage elements. These may be Transfers or simply pasted.
3.You may include some text* to help convey your message.
*Too much text is unacceptable. Your work should be mostly image with text to support it, not the other way around.
4.You may pick the medium. Mixed media is ok. Some media include: Pencil, pen and ink, colored pencil, collage or printmaking. If there is something else that you want to try, let me know and I will try to make it happen.
5.Make sure that you answer the question. Simply restating the question is not acceptable.
Here are a few helpful hints:
I should know what question you are answering by looking at your work of art. Your message should be clear. Please don’t include the question as part of your image.
Your text may be the collage element.
You will be graded on the following criteria:
1.Craftsmanship- How clean is your image? How precise is it? How well crafted is it?
2.Direction following- Did you complete the assignment as dictated above? Did you answer the question?
3.Creativity- How original was your piece?
4.Aesthetic value- Does your image add to the world of art? How does it look? Is your message clear?
5.Reflection- Did you complete a reflection sheet at the end of this unit?
The question you may have is, “Why talk about this? It has nothing to do with me. I don’t know any one who died. It happened a long time ago.” Here is why: As an artist, your responsibility is to reflect on the world around you and answer the questions that are left to us. As an American, it is your responsibility to make this world a better place than you found it. As a human being it is your responsibility to make sure that this never happens again. If it does, who’s to say that next time, you or someone you love won’t be on the other end of the hatred?
As the world continues to reflect on the Rwanda genocide, many questions still linger. Your assignment will be to create a work of art that answers one of the following questions.
o Did it have to happen?
o What drives humanity to such extreme and intense hatred?
o Who is to blame? The international community or Rwanda itself?
o Are we sure that the Rwanda genocide is the last the world will witness?
o What can we do to prevent this from happening anywhere in the world?
o Can art or music help the healing process?
o What is the difference between healing and forgetting?
o What is the danger of forgetting?
o What should America have done? Was our course of action justified? If so, how?
o How does this relate to the genocide in Darfur, Armenia, Bosnia or to the European Jews?
The work of art does have a few requirements:
1. It should be at least 16”x20” large. Larger is fine.
2. It should include some collage elements. These may be Transfers or simply pasted.
3. You may include some text* to help convey your message.
*Too much text is unacceptable. Your work should be mostly image with text to support it, not the other way around.
4. You may pick the medium. Mixed media is ok. Some media include: Pencil, pen and ink, colored pencil, collage or printmaking. If there is something else that you want to try, let me know and I will try to make it happen.
5. Make sure that you answer the question. Simply restating the question is not acceptable.
Here are a few helpful hints:
You will be graded on the following criteria:
1. Craftsmanship- How clean is your image? How precise is it? How well crafted is it?
2. Direction following- Did you complete the assignment as dictated above? Did you answer the question?
3. Creativity- How original was your piece?
4. Aesthetic value- Does your image add to the world of art? How does it look? Is your message clear?
5. Reflection- Did you complete a reflection sheet at the end of this unit?